Loose-leaf binder.



J. D. HUGHES.

LOOSE LEAP BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 7, 190B.

7 1,011,346. Patented Dec.12,19 11.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH D. HUGHES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO B. B. WILSON, OFCHICAGO,

' ILLINOIS.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

Application filed December 7, 1908. Serial No; 466,235.

Binders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,-and exact descripcarriages for actuating the toggle bars.

'tion of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andto the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to that class of loose leaf binders inwhichoppositely movable clamping plates are adj ustably connected together inpart by means of telescoping impaling posts and by screw operated togglebars, which serve when actuated to move the binding plates oppositely.In numerous devices of this class an actuating shaft provided atopposite ends from the middle with right and left threads, is journaledlongit-u-- dinally between the clamping plates and actuate carriageswhereby the toggle bars are adjusted to vary the capacity of the binder.In others, the threaded shaft lies Vertically between the clampingplates at a right angle therewith and likewise actuates the latterconstruction, owing to the plates both being movable, it has been deemedim-,

practicable to afforda central support for the toggle bars or shaft, andin consequence, such devices have proven unreliable owing to thedifficulty experienced in producing equal movement of the clampingplates while the same are held in unvarying parallel relation.Furthermore, in contracting the binder, the carriages or nuts with whichthe toggle bars are connected may engage or catch on the back flangesand clamping plates, thus in some instances injuring the device owing tothe inexperienced operator attempting to force continued rotation of thethreaded shaft after such engagement.

Another serious objection to binders which have heretofore beenconstructed with a transverse shaft, especially that type in which theshaft is wholly supported by the carriages, is that when the binder ispartially extended, the shaft and carriages, and

in fact the actuating mechanism as a whole, may be shifted toward eitherend 'of the clamping plates which carries the shaft to one s1de of thekey aperture, the result of offsetting the shaft in this mannerobviously prevents engagement thereof with the key and the binder cannotbe further adjusted without first centralizing the shaft and mechanismto bring the shaft in alinement with the key opening. The mechanism maybe offset accidentally as by dropping the end of the binder on the deskor intentionally and in either event the mechanism must be centralizedor shifted to operative position before further adjustment of the bindercan be effected.

The object of this invention is to afford in connection with a device ofthe class described positive guides for one or both of the carriages ornuts with which the toggle bars are connected and which serve to holdthe shaft at all times in central position at right angles wit-h theclamping plates while permitting the utmost freedom of movement of theparts consistent with the proper Opera tion of the device.

It is also an object of the invention to afford guides connected withone or both of the clamping plates and which not only insure the centralposition of the shaft, butwhich, as well, serve to support the carriagesat all times,thereby preventing the same engaging against the backflange and injuring the device. a

It is a very important object of this invention to provide means whichcentralizes the shaft and actuating mechanism for any adjustment of thebinder and which positively prevents the shaft being shifted out ofalinement with the key aperture or the mechanism being forcedlongitudinally of the clamping plates. It is a further object of thisinvention to provide guides adapted-to engage in ways in the carriageswhich support the carriages from movement longitudinally of the clampingplates, which prevent the carriages being sprung toward and fromthe backof the book and which affords great rigidity.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and morefully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings {Figure 1 is an inner face view of the metal parts orback of a binder embodying my invention, and showing the same extended.Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sect-ion of a device embodying myinvention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the supportingguides and one of the carriages.

As shown in the drawings: A-A, indicate respectively the upper and lowerclamping plates, each of which at its rear edge is provided with anintegral back flange aa. Said clamping plates, as shown, are physicallyconnected by means of sectional telescoping impaling posts B-BB B which,as shown, each comprise a plurality of tubular sections, eachinterfitting the other, and as shown, the outermost sections of whichare engaged to the said clamping plates. Said posts, as shown, areconnected with said clamping plates in such a' manner that the largerand smaller ends are alter nately connected with said clamping plate, asshown in Fig. 1. As shown also, attaching plates CC, each comprising ametallic plate bent at one end at a right angle with the main body ofthe plate affording a flange 0, are riveted to the clamping platebeneath the impaling posts BB respectively. The main body of theattaching plate extends ap proximately parallel with the clamping plateand is provided, as shown, with an inwardly inclined slot 0. Toggle barsDD, are connected in pairs to the attaching plate C, of the clampingplate A, and the attaching plate C, of the clamping plate A, by means ofpins or rivets cl, which extend therethrough at the end of the togglebar and through said slot 0. Said pair of toggle bars D, are pivotallyconnected at their inner ends on opposite ends of a carriage E, having athreaded aperture extending through the center thereof to receive theactuating shaft F, and the toggle bars D, are pivotally connected on theinner ends of the carriage E, which is provided with a central aperturetherethrough oppositely threaded from the aperture in the carriage E,and through which extends the other end of said shaft, which isoppositely threaded from that extending through the carriage E. Asshown, the end f, of the shaft F, is angular or shaped in any othersuitable manner to be engaged by any suitable tool to rotate thecarriage oppositely, for this purpose a key being inserted centrallythrough a key hole n in the clamping plate A.

Rigidly secured on the back flange a of the clamping plate A, are guidesGG, which, as shown, are riveted to said back flange and are a distanceapart approximately equal to the length of the carriage E, which engagesbetween the same. Each of said guides is provided with an up wardlydirected flange g, and an inwardly directed horizontal flange g, whichlatter, as shown, are engaged in ways or grooves 6 which afford upperand lower shoulders 6 in the carriage E, thereby supporting the carriageabove the back flange, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and also insuring thatthe carriage at all times held from movement longitudinally of theclamping plates or outwardly from the back and from torsional movement.

The operation is as follows: In opening the clamping plates oppositelyand outwardly, the shaft is threaded in a direction to shift thecarriages EE, toward the ends of the shaft. In consequence, the togglebars (which are mutually pivoted together by means of the rivet or pin(Z are caused to diverge at their outer ends proportionately with theirdivergence at their inner ends. The shaft during this movement ispositively supported on the guides from any movement other than rotationthereof, and in consequence, the clamping plates are at all times heldin parallel relation. In adjusting the clamping plates or in contractingthe binder, the rotation of the shaft, of course, is in the oppositedirection with the opposite effect, namely, the ends of the mutuallypivoted toggle bars are drawn inwardly bringing the clamping platestoward each other. The guides G-G, now serve to guide the carriage E, toprevent the same by any possibility, catching or engaging on the backflange a, of the clamping plate A, and inasmuch as the toggle bars D,which are connected on the carriage E, positively support the togglebars D, and also the carriage E, in the inner end thereof, it followsthat the carriage E, is likewise supported sufliciently above the backflange a, to preclude jamming at any time when the binder is open andwhen the binder is closed the guides engage in ways or grooves in thecarriage E.

Of course, I am aware that details of construction may be varied. Itherefore do not purpose limiting this application for patent otherwisethan necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with oppositely movable clamping plates oftelescoping holding posts connecting the same, cross lever bars slidablyconnected at their outer ends with the respective clamping plates,oppositely moving carriages with which the inner ends of said lever barsare pivotally connected, a right and left screw threaded spindle,0ppositely threaded in said carriages and ex tending transversely of theclamping bars, adapted when rotated to shift said carriages to expand orcontract the binder and a guide connected with one of the clampingplates at right angles therewith and affording a support for one of thecarriages.

2. In a binder of the class described the combination of parallelclamping plates, telescoping holding posts connecting the same, shearlevers adjustably engaged at their outer ends with said plates,oppositely movable carriages with which the inner ends of said leversare connected, a screw shaft or spindle for moving said carriages awayfrom and toward each other, and parallel guides connected with one ofthe clamp ing plates and serving to limit the movement of one of thecarriages except in a line perpendicular to the clamping plate.

3. The combination with oppositely movable clamping plates oftelescoping impaling posts connecting the same, toggle levers connectedat their outer ends with the respective clamping plates, oppositelymovable carriages with which the inner ends of said toggle levers arepivotally connected, one of thecarriages provided with shoulders, aright and left threaded shaft, oppositely threaded in said carriages andextending transversely. the clamping bars and adapted when rotated toshift said carriages to vary the capacity of the binder and guidesextending transversely of the clamping plates, each provided with aflange to engage the respective shoulder in the carriage to prevent thecarriage being depressed sufficiently towcont-act the clamping platesand back plates.

4. In a binder of the class described parallel clamping plates,telescoping posts connecting the same, toggle bars engaging at theirouter ends said plates, oppositelymovable carriages in which the innerends of said. toggle levers are connected, a screw shaft for actuatingsaid carriages oppositely, parallel guides for preventing movement ofthe carriages longitudinally of the plates and preventing torsionalmovement of the carriages but permitting the carriages to freelyreciprocate and coacting means on one of the carriages and the guidesfor preventing depression or springing of the carriages inwardly towardtheback. V

5. In a device of the class described the combination of clampingplates, a shaft or spindle extending perpendicular to the clampingplates and between the same, carriages reversely threaded on said shaft,means connected with said carriages for shifting the clamping platesproportionally with the movement of the carriages toward and from eachother and parallel guides secured to one of the clamping plates, projecting inwardly and between which one of the carriages slides.

6. A device of the class described embracing parallel clamping plates,carriages connected therewith and movable toward and from the same toshift the clamping plates, guides projecting inwardly at right angleswith one of the clamping plates to engage and support one of thecarriages.

7 In a device of the class described the.

combination of clamping plates, oppositely movable carriages, a shaft orspindle perpendicular to the "clamping plates and wholly supported bythe carriages, means connected with said carriages and. the clampingplates for adjusting the clamping plates, and inwardly, projectingparallel guides secured to one of the clamping plates for supporting thecarriages.

8. In a device of the class described the combination of parallelclamping plates, carriages connected therewith and movable toward andfrom each other to shift the clamping plates, guides projecting inwardlyat right angles with one of the clamping plates to engage and supportone of the carriages and the other carriage connected with the supportedcarriage in a manner to prevent movement thereof except in a lineperpendicular thereto.

9. In a loose leaf binder clamping plates, one provided with a keyaperture in the side thereof, transversely movable carriages connectedwith the plates to operate the same, a transverse shaft whollysupported-by the carriages and having threaded engagement therewith andmeans engaged in ways in one of the carriages for supporting thecarriages and maintaining the shaft in alinecarriages toward and fromeach other and means for supporting and guiding the carriages andpreventing the shaft being displaced from alinement with the keyaperture.

11. In a loose leaf binder clamping plates,

guides extending transversely thereof, carriages provided with ways inwhich said guides engage, 'means connecting the carriages with theclamping plates and means for adjusting the carriages.

12. In a device of the class described clamping plates, carriagesadjustable transversely thereof, said carriages having a way or groovein each end thereof, means connecting the carriages and clamping plates,a shaft for adjusting the carriages and guides each having a horizontalflange for engaging in the grooves in the carriages and preventing allmovement of the carriages except a transverse reciprocation.

13.- In a device of the class described the combination of clampingplates, transversely movable carriages, shear levers connecting thecarriages and clamping plates, a transverse shaft for actuating thecarriages and means independent from the shaft and shear levers forguiding the carriages.

14:. In a device of the class described clamping plates, carriagesprovided with 130.

ways at opposite ends thereof, guides rigidly secured to one of theclamping plates engaged in the ways in one of the carriages and adaptedto engage in the ways in the other carriage when the device is fullycontracted, levers connected at their inner ends to the carriages andslidably connected with the clamping plates and a shaft extendingtransversely of the plates adapted by rotation thereof to adjust thecarriages oppositely.

15. In a device of the class described the combination of clampingplates, a transverse actuating shaft, carriages adjustable on saidshaft, pairs of crossed levers, one pair on each side of the carriagesand connecting the appropriate ends of the carriages with the adjacentends of the clamping plates and means secured to one of the clampingplates for supporting the carriages and preventing them from movinglongitudinally of the clamping plates.

16. In a device of the class described clamping plates, carriagesmovable transversely of the plates, a shaft extending transversely ofthe plates for actuating the carriages, a pair of levers crossedadjacent one end and pivotally connected, each lever connecting one ofthe carriages with the opposite clamping plate and members rigidlysecured to one of the clamping plates provided with horizontal flangesto support the carriages.

17. In a device of the class described the combination of clampingplates, a transverse shaft, carriages on said shaft con nected with theplates to adjust the same and members rigidly secured to one of theclamping plates and engaging the carriages for centering the shaft.

18. In a loose leaf ledger clamping plates, a rotatable shaft, carriageson said shaft, guides provided with flanges and adapted to support andguide the carriages, a plurality of levers, a lever pivotally connectedwith each end of each carriage and slidably connected with the oppositeclamping plate and means pivotally connecting the levers at the same endof the carriages.

19. A loose leaf ledger comprising oppositely movable members, oneprovided wit-h a key aperture, a transverse shaft, carriages movable onthe shaft, means connecting the carriages with the movable members andmeans for supporting the carriages from movement longitudinally of themovable members and centering and securing the shaft in alinement withthe key aperture.

20. In a loose leaf ledger the combination of oppositely movableclamping members, a shaft, adjustable carriages thereon, guides rigidlysecured to one of the clamping members and projecting inwardly therefromto support and guide the carriages and a pair of levers connecting eachend of the clamping members and the corresponding ends of the carriages,each pair being crossed at their ends adjacent the carriages and pivotedtogether.

21. In a loose leaf ledger, the combination of clamping plates, atransverse actuating shaft, carriages on said transverse shaft, meansoperated by the carriages to adjust the clamping plates and guides forsaid car riages.

22. A loose leaf ledger embracing clamping plates, transversely movablecarriages connected with the clamping plates, a transverse shaft formoving the carriages oppositely, and means for guiding the carriages andpreventing all movement of the carriages except a reciprocating movementtransversely of the clamping plates.

23. In a loose leaf binder the combination of clamping sections, athreaded shaft eX tending transversely of the clamping sections, membersactuated by said shaft, levers pivoted to said members and adapted toexpand and pontract the binder and supporting and guiding means for themembers.

24. The combination of the parallel coverplates, a right and leftscrew-threaded keyspindle arranged therebetween and perpendicularthereto, nut-blocks on said spindle, shear-levers connecting thecover-plates and blocks, and guides or steady-pins engaging one of saidblocks.

25. In a loose leaf binder clamping members, an actuating shaft,carriages actuated thereby, means connecting the carriages and theclamping members and supporting the former, and means for guiding thecarriages in their movement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

J OSEPH D. HUGHES.

Witnesses:

K. E. HANNAH, LAWRENCE REIBSTEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

